Multi-use sleeping bag construction

ABSTRACT

A SLEEPING BAG CONSTRUCTION WHICH MAY BE USED TO PROVIDE EITHER A SINGLE SLEEPING BAG IN WHICH THE NUMBER OF WARMTH-PROVIDING LAYERS CAN BE VARIED, A DOUBLE SLEEPING BAG FOR USE BY TWO PERSONS, OR TWO SEPARATE SINGLE SLEEPING BAGS. THE SLEEPING BAG INCLUDES A PAIR OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR BLANKETS OF APPROXIMATELY THE SAME SIZE. A FIRST, OR OUTER, BLANKET IS PROVIDED WITH A PAIR OF ROWS OF ZIPPER ELEMENTS OR TEETH WHICH EXTEND CONTINUOUSLY ALONG ONE SIDE OF THE OUTER BLANKET AND ALONG ONE-HALF OF AN ADJACENT SIDE. A SECOND PAIR OF ROWS OF ZIPPER ELEMENTS EXTENDS ALONG THE SIDE OF THE OUTER BLANKET OPPOSITE THE FIRST SIDE AND ALONG THE OTHER HALF OF THE ADJACENT SIDE. SIMILARLY, THE SECOND, OR INNER, BLANKET IS PROVIDED WITH A ROW OF ZIPPER ELEMENTS EXTENDING ALONG ONE SIDE AND ALONG ONE-HALF OF AN ADJACENT SIDE, AND A SECOND ROW OF ZIPPER ELEMENTS EXTENDING ALONG THE OPPOSITE SIDE AND ALONG THE OTHER HALF OF THE ADJACENT SIDE. THE INNER BLANKET MAY BE PLACED ON TOP OF THE OUTER BLANKET, AND BOTH BLANKETS MAY BE FOLDED UPON THEMSELVES TO FORM FOUR BLANKET LAYERS. EACH ZIPPER ROW ON THE INNER BLANKET IS ENGAGEABLE WITH ONE OF THE INNER ZIPPER ROWS ON THE OUTER BLANKET, AND THE TWO OUTER ZIPPER ROWS OF THE OUTER BLANKET CAN BE JOINED TO PROVIDE A SINGLE SLEEPING BAG IN WHICH EITHER ONE, TWO, OR THREE LAYERS MAY BE USED TO WARM THE PERSON SLEEPLING IN THE BAG. IF THE OUTER ZIPPER ROWS ARE UNFASTENED, THE TWO BLANKETS CAN BE UNFOLDED TO PROVIDE A DOUBLE SLEEPING BAG IN WHICH THE INNER BLANKET COVERS THE TWO SLEEPERS. FINALLY, THE INNER BLANKET MAY BE UNFASTENED FROM THE OUTER BLANKET, AND TWO SLEEPING BAGS MAY BE PROVIDED BY JOINING THE TWO OUTER ZIPPER ROWS OF THE OUTER BLANKET AND THE TWO ROWS OF THE INNER BLANKET.

June 15, w11" L. D. WQRLEY 3,584,323

MULTI-USE SLEEPING BAG CONSTRUCTION LAUREN D. WORLEY BY @my wr?, a a

V June 15 19m L.. D. woRLl-:Y 3,5,323

MULTI-USE SLEEPING BAG CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. lO, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 LAUREN D. WORLEY m' June l5, 1971 L D WORLEY www1-USE SLEEPING BAG CONSTRUCTION JN'/ fm LAUREN D. WORLEY Filed Sept. lO. 1969 L. D. WQRLEY MULTI-USE SLEEPING BAG CONSTRUCTION June l5, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet -1 Filed Sept. l0, 1969 l/w/N'ln/c LAUREN D. WORLEY BY 3,584,323 MULTI-USE SLEEPING BAG CONSTRUCTION Lauren D. Worley, Wichita, Kans., assignor to The Coleman Company, Inc., Wichita, Kans. Filed Sept. 10, 1969, Ser. No. 856,625 Int. Cl. A47g 13/09 U.S. Cl. -343 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sleeping bag construction which may be used to provide either a single sleeping bag in which the number of warmth-providing layers can be varied, a double sleeping bag for use by two persons, or two separate single sleeping bags. The sleeping bag includes a pair of generally rectangular blankets of approximately the same size. A rst, or outer, blanket is provided with a pair of rows of zipper elements or teeth which extend continuously along one side of the outer blanket and along one-half of an adjacent side. A second pair of rows of zipper elements extends along the side of the outer blanket opposite the rst side and along the other half of the adjacent side. Similarly, the second, or inner, blanket is provided with a row of zipper elements extending along one side and along one-half of an adjacent side, and a second row of zipper elements extending along the opposite side and along the other half of the adjacent side. The inner blanket may be placed on top of the outer blanket, and both blankets may be folded upon themselves to form four blanket layers. Each zipper row on the inner blanket is engageable with one of the inner zipper rows on the outer blanket, and the two outer zipper rows of the outer blanket can be joined to provide a single sleeping bag in which either one, two, or three layers may be used to warm the person sleeping in the bag. If the outer zipper rows are unfastened, the two blankets can be unfolded to provide a double sleeping bag in which the inner blanket covers the two sleepers. Finally, the inner blanket may be unfastened from the outer blanket, and two sleeping bags may be provided by joining the two outer zipper rows of the outer blanket and the two rows of the inner blanket.

BACKGROUND This invention relates to sleeping bags, and, more particularly, to a multi-use sleeping bag which may be used either as a single, variable warmth sleeping bag, a double sleeping bag, or a pair of single sleeping bags.

This invention is an improvement over the sleeping bag illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,830,305, which illustrates a sleeping bag which may be used either as a single sleeping bag which provides three varying degrees of Warmth or as a double sleeping bag.

Although multi-use sleeping bags have been available in the past, as illustrated in Pat. No. 2,830,305, I have found that it is frequently desirable to be able to separate the components of these sleeping bags in order to provide one or more single sleeping bags which is lighter than the original sleeping bag. For example, in moderate weather a single blanket layer may provide sufficient warmth. While presently available multi-use sleeping bags may be used to provide a single blanket layer, it is still necessary to carry the entire sleeping bag, thereby adding unnecessary bulk and weight to the campers gear. Further, although prior sleeping bags could be unfolded to provide a double sleeping bag, it is frequently desirable to provide two separate sleeping bags for use by two people in different locations.

nited States Patent "ice SUMMARY A sleeping bag construction is provided which can be used as a single sleeping bag in `which varying numbers of blanket layers can be used to provide varying degrees of warmth, which can be readily unfolded to provide a double sleeping bag for use by two persons, and the component parts of which can be quickly and easily disconnected to provide two separate sleeping bags.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing in which- FIG. l is a perspective View of the inventive sleeping bag construction in position for use by a single person and illustrating the various blanket layers;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrating the zippers unfastened;

FIG. 2B is a view similar to FIG. 2A illustrating the zippers fastened;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sleeping bag construction in position for use as a double sleeping bag;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sleeping bag construction showing the blanket components separated to form two individual sleeping bags;

FIG. 6 is a section view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary end view of FIG. 1 showing the zippers in different positions;

FIG. 9 is an end view of FIG. 3 showing the zippers in different positions; and

FIG. 10 is an end view of one of the sleeping bags of FIG. 5 showing the zipper in a different position.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the sleeping bag construction 10 includes a first or outer blanket 1,1 and a second or inner blanket 12. Each of the blankets 11 and |12 is generally rectangular in shape, and they are of approximately the same size. In FIG. 3 the inner blanket 12 is positioned above the outer blanket 11, and in FIG. 1, both blankets are folded on themselves approximately along the center lines thereof to provide four blanket layers 11a, 12a, 12b and 11b, each of the blanket layers being provided by one-half of one of the blankets.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, blanket 11 includes a rst sheet 13 of water-proof or water-resistant fabric, such as duck cloth, and second sheet 14 of flannel or other suitable lining material which is folded on itself to enclose a layer 15 of Dacron batting or other suitable filling, which may be held in place by scroll stitching 15a (FIG. 5). Blanket 12 includes a water-proof sheet 116, a ilannel lining sheet 17, and a layer of Dacron batting 18 held in place by stitching 18u. If desired, the sheet 13 may extend beyond the edge of the sheet 14 to provide a ap 13a which can be wrapped around the sleeping bag when it is rolled up for storing.

The rectangular blanket 11 includes four sides 19, 20, 21, and 22. Referring to FIG. 2A, the outer sheet 13 of the blanket 11 is folded inwardly and stitched to the sheet 14 along side 22 and one-half of side 21. A conventional fabric zipper strip 23 with a row of zipper teeth 24 is inserted between the sheets 13 and 14 and held by stitching 23a, and a zipper strip 25 with zipper teeth 26 is stitched to sheets 13 and 14 by stitching 25a. Still referring to FIG. 2A, the outer sheet 13 is folded over the sheet 14 along the blanket side 20 and the other half of side 21. A zipper strip 27 with zipper teeth 28 is stitched to the sheets 13 and 14 by stitching 27a, and zipper strip 29 with zipper teeth 30 is inserted between the sheets 13 and 14 and stitched at 29a.

The rectangular blanket 12 similarly includes four sides 31, 32, 33, and 34. A conventional fabric zipper strip 35 with zipper teeth 36 is inserted between the sheets 16 and 17 of the blanket along the sides 32 and one-half of the side 33 and stitched thereto by stitching 35a, and a zipper strip 37 with zipper teeth 38 is inserted between the sheets 16 and 17 along the side 34 and the other half of side 33 and stitched at 37a.

The rows `36 and 38 of zipper teeth which extend along the sides of the blanket 12 are adapted to mate with each other and with the rows 24 and 30, respectively, of zipper teeth which are secured to the blanket 11. Accordingly, one of the rows 36 and 38 on the second blanket 12 carries a slide fastener tab for joining the zipper rows 36 and 38 and for joining the zipper row on which it slides to the corresponding zipper row, either 24 or 30, on the outer blanket 11. Another zipper tab is provided on the zipper row 24 or 30 which mates with the zipper row 36 or 38 which does not carry a zipper tab.

As can be seen best in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the particular embodiment illustrated the zipper row of the outer blanket 11 carries a zipper tab 39, and the zipper row on the inner blanket 1'2 carries a zipper tab 40. The end of zipper 3|) includes the usual zipper terminal receptacle 41 into which the slide element 42 of the zipper row 38 is inserted before the zipper tab 39 is operated to join the zipper rows 30 and 38. Similarly, the zipper row 36 includes a terminal receptacle 43 which receives the terminal element 44 of the zipper row 24.

The outer zipper row 26 of the blanket 11 is provided with a terminal receptacle 45 and carries a zipper tab 46. Zipper row 28 includes a terminal element 47 which is inserted into the zipper tab 46 and terminal receptacle 45 when the zipper rows 28 and 26 are to be joined. The terminal receptacle 45 and terminal element 47 are spaced apart to permit insertion of the terminal element 47 when the blanket 11 is folded.

Still referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the sleeping bag is assembled by placing the blanket 12 over the blanket 11 so that the flannel linings 17 and 14, respectively, of each blanket face each other. The zippers 30 and 38 of the blankets 11 and 12, respectively, (FIG, 4), and the zippers 24 and 36 of the blankets 11 and 12, respectively, are then joined by pulling the zipper tabs 39 and 40 to join the blankets 11 and 12 along substantially three sides of each blanket as illustrated in FIG. 3. In this position, the sleeping bag may =be used as a double sleeping bag for two persons, the blanket 12 providing an upper blanket or cover over the sleepers and the blanket 11 providing a lower blanket or mattress. The zipper tabs 39 and 40 may be pulled to disengage their associated zippers suiiiciently to provide access into the sleeping bag, and the zippers may then be rejoined to provide a relatively weather-proof seal between the two blankets.

If the sleeping bag is to be used by a single person, the blankets illustrated in FIG. 3 are folded on themselves so that the zipper rows 26 and 218 of the blanket 11 overlie each other. The zipper tab 46 is then pulled to join these zipper rows, as illustrated in FIGS. l and 8, to form the sleeping bag illustrated in FIG. l, which provides three sleeping positions depending upon the weather. If the weather is moderately cool, the camper may sleep under a single outer blanket layer 11a (FIG. 2A) provided by the blanket 11 and on top of the three blanket layers 12a, 12b, and 11b. Access to the single layer can be provided by unzipping the outer zippers 26 and 28 and the zippers 36 and 38. If the weather is cold, the camper can sleep between the inner layers 12a and 12b so that two blanket layers 11a and 12a are positioned above the camper. In this case the camper can easily get 4 into and outer of the sleeping bag by pulling zipper tab 46 to release zippers 26 and 28. If the weather is very cold, the camper can sleep between layers 12b and 11b so that three blanket layers 11a, 12a, and 12b are positioned above the camper.

Each of the blanket layers in FIG. 1 is relatively elongated and merges with another blanket layer along a longitudinal side thereof. Each layer thus has one longitudinal and a pair of transverse free edges, and zippers are attached along one longitudinal and one transverse edge.

The stitching 25a which secures the zipper 26 is seen to be spaced inwardly from the stitching 23a which secures the zipper 24 (FIG. 2A) providing a flap 50. It is to be understood that the stitching 23a and 25a extends through the folded sheet 14 and the sheet 13 and tightly compresses and secures these sheets, but for purposes of clarity the sheets are sho'wn in FIGS. 2A and 2B as somewhat loosely joined. Similarly, the stitching 29a which secures the zipper 30 is spaced inwardly from the stitching 27a which secures the zipper 28 to provide flap 51. In one embodiment the spacing between stitching 25a and 23a was of the order of 11/2 inches, and the spacing between the stitching 29a and 27a lwas of the order of 1/2 inch.

Referring to FIG. 2B, when all four blanket layers are joined, the flap 50 is lpositioned adjacent the connection between the inner zipper 26 and the outer zipper 28 and provides a weather seal to keep cold air from entering the sleeping bag. Similarly, the flap 51 is positioned adjacent the connection between zippers 30 and 38 and provides a weather seal therefor. For purposes of illustration the various zippers are shown well spaced apart in FIG. 2B and the several fabric zipper strips 23, 25, 27, 29, 35 and 37 are shown relatively elongated. However, these zipper strips are of the order of /i inch, and the iiaps 50 and 51 will be drawn tightly against the zipper connections.

If it is desired to use the sleeping bag as two separate sleeping bags, or if it is desired to provide a single sleeping bag of less weight than the complete sleeping bag 10, then the various zippers are opened so that the two blankets 11 and 12 may be separated. The blanket 11 may then be folded on itself as illustrated in FIG. 5, and the zipper tab 46 may be pulled to join the zipper rows 26 and 28 (FIG. 7) to provide a sleeping 'bag having a single blanket layer above and below the sleeper. When the blanket 11 is used by itself, the outer zipper 24 and the inner zipper 30 are not joined, but the ap 50 is compressed about the connection between zippers 26 and 28 and provides a weather seal.

The other blanket 12 may also be folded on itself so that the 'water-proof lining 16 lies outwardly, and the zipper tab 40 may be pulled to join the zipper rows 36 and 38 to provide a single sleeping bag as illustrated in FIG. 5. As can be seen in FIG. 9, the ends of the rows 36 and 38 are separated so that the terminal element 42 can be inserted into the receptacle 43 after the blanket 12 is folded. Referring to FIG. 6, a sleeping bag is provided with a single blanket layer above and below the sleeper.

I have found that the sleeping bag 10 can provide even greater versatility when the blankets 11 and 12 are of different weights. For example, the blanket 11 can be filled with four pounds of filling 15 of Daeron or other suitable material, and the blanket 12 can be filled with two pounds of filling 18. Thus, when the weather is fairly mild and the camper does not wish to carry the complete sleeping bag 1G, he can carry either the four pound blanket 11 or the two pound blanket 12, his choice depending upon the 'weather and the amount of protection he desires.

The different weights of the two blankets provide similar versatility when the sleeping bag is used as illustrated in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2A, the sleeping bag can be used as the equivalent of a four pound sleeping bag, a six pound sleeping bag, or an eight pound sleeping bag, depending upon whether the camper sleeps under layer 11a, layers 11a and 12a, or layers 11a, 12a and 12b, respectively.

Although the particular slide fastener means illustrated are izppers, other types may also be used. For example, plastic slide fasteners without zipper teeth are readily available.

While in the foregoing specification I have given a detailed description of a specific embodiment of my invention for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that many of the details herein given may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art `without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Iclaim:

1. A sleeping bag comprising a generally rectangular outer blanket folded on itself to provide upper and lower outer blanket layers, each of said outer blanket layers being relatively elongated and having a pair of opposed transverse edges and a longitudinal edge,

a generally rectangular inner blanket folded on itself within said folded outer blanket to provide upper and lower inner blanket layers, each of said inner blanket layers being relatively elongated and having a pair of opposed transverse edges and a longitudinal edge,

a first row of slide fastener elements extending along one transverse edge and the longitudinal edge of each of the outer blanket layers for releasably joining said outer layers along two edges thereof,

a second row of slide fastener elements extending along said one transverse edge and the longitudinal edge of the lower outer blanket layer and a row of slide fastener elements extending along one transverse edge and the longitudinal edge of the lower inner blanket layer for releasably joining the lower inner and outer blanket layers along two edges thereof,

a second row of slide fastener elements extending along said one transverse edge and the longitudinal edge of the upper outer blanket layer and a row of slide fastener elements extending along one transverse edge and the longitudinal edge of the upper inner blanket layer for releasably joining the upper inner and outer blanket layers along two edges thereof.

the rows of slide fastener elements on the lower inner blanket layer and on the upper inner blanket layer also being engageable for releasably joining the upper and lower inner blanket layers along two edges thereof whereby a single sleeping bag having four blanket layers, a

double sleeping bag having two blanket layers, or a pair of single sleeping bags each having one blanket layer may be provided.

2. The sleeping bag of claim 1 in which said slide fastener elements are Zipper teeth, and including a first Zipper pull tab for joining the first rows of zipper teeth on said outer blanket layers, a second zipper pull tab for joining the second row of zipper teeth on the lower outer blanket layer and the row of zipper teeth on the lower inner blanket layer, and a third zipper pull tab for joining the second row of zipper teeth on the upper outer blanket layer and the row of teeth on the upper inner blanket layer, said first zipper pull tab and one of said second and third zipper pull tabs being carried by said outer blanket and the other of said second and third zipper pull tabs being carried by said inner blanket whereby each of said outer and inner blankets may be separately used as a sleeping bag, the rows of zipper teeth on the inner blanket being engageable by the zipper pull tab carried by the inner blanket.

3. The sleeping bag of claim 1 in which the first row of slide fastener elements on the upper and outer blanket layer is spaced inwardly from the second row of slide fastener elements on the upper outer blanket layer to provide a first ap therebetween, the second row of slide fastener elements on the lower outer blanket layer being spaced inwardly from the first row of slide fastener elements on the lower outer blanket to provide a second ap therebetween, said first ap lying inwardly and against said first rows of slide fastener elements when said first rows are joined to provide a weather seal.

4. The sleeping bag of claim 3 in which said second flap lies outwardly and against the second row of slide fastener elements on the lower outer blanket layer and the row of slide fastener elements on the lower inner blanket layer when these rows are joined to provide a weather seal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1958 Freepons 5-343 5/1970 Peterson 5-343 U.S Cl. X.R. 2-695 

